The Criminal
14. Rights in St. Helena are in accordance with this article. Procedure Ordinance, 1975, deals with the legal requirements in respect of arrest and detention.
Article 10
15. The provisions of this article are observed. In practice, there are seldom more than four prisoners in the prison. In the year 1987/88, the maximum prison population on any one day was six.
Article 12
16.
So far as Islanders of St. Helena are concerned, the terms of the article are fully observed; as they are for non-islanders, except in so far as for them there are restrictions under the Immigrants Landholding (Restriction) Ordinance, 1987, which requires such persons to obtain a licence from the Governor in Council to hold an interest in land in the Island.
Article 14
17.
Persons on St. Helena now have the option of defending themselves or seeking legal assistance from two lay advocates. By established practice, persons are informed of their right to have legal representation. Legal assistance and advocacy is provided free of charge as a result of a Trust Fund established by the St. Helena Government. The article is observed, partly under applicable English law, and partly under the St. Helena Criminal Procedure Ordinance 1975.
18.
Article 17
At the meeting to discuss the United Kingdom's second report on its dependent territories, it was asked what kind of personal data could be stored in computers and who could hold such information (CCPR/C/SR.857, para. 31). Computers are relatively new to the Island of St. Helena and are at present used only for word processing, accounting and statistical purposes. In the event that computers were in the future used for the storage of personal data, the St. Helena Government would then consider applying the United Kingdom Data Protection Act.
Article 21
19. At the same meeting, a question was asked about the discretionary powers of commissioners of police in the dependent territories in respect of the conduct of public meetings (CCPR/C/SR.857, para. 64). Discretionary powers are available to the Chief of Police in St. Helena under section 33 of the Police Force Ordinance 1975. However, there has been no necessity for the present Chief of Police to invoke the powers available under this section.
20. On 30 November 1988, a Commission of Inquiry was set up by the Governor for the purpose of "inquiring into the provisions of the Police Force Ordinance 1975, and to make recommendations as to what (if any) changes should be made therein". The Commission comprised a lay advocate and the Deputy Chief of Police under the chairmanship of the Sheriff. The Commission called
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